Arrests made in car thefts

PIQUA — Piqua police were dispatched to the area of Young and Adams Streets last week where they reportedly discovered two males stealing items from cars.

Christian A. Wilkinson, 19, of Piqua and Dustin A. Zaenger, 19, of Piqua were each found in that area carrying backpacks. According to Piqua police reports, they claimed that they were just walking around after staying at a friend’s house on South Street.

Wilkinson and Zaenger allowed the officers to go through their backpacks when the officers reportedly found numerous items in the backpacks, including car chargers, GPS units, loose change, beer, a Dell laptop, and several other miscellaneous items. They were also reportedly found with a stolen handicap placard.

Zaenger claimed that he owned the items. Wilkinson stated that the items belonged to Wilkinson’s roommate.

According to Piqua police reports, Wilkinson then requested to speak with one of the officers privately before stating that Zaenger was the one who started “pulling on door handles and taking items from the vehicles.” Zaenger also later admitted that they both were stealing items from random vehicles in the city.

Wilkinson and Zaenger were each charged with first-degree misdemeanor theft, first-degree misdemeanor receiving stolen property, first-degree misdemeanor possession of criminal tools, and first-degree misdemeanor underage possession of alcohol in connection with this incident.

They are currently being held at the Miami County Jail on $4,000 bond each.

Wilkinson is also currently facing charges of inducing panic and discharging a firearm in the city from Aug. 2015 for allegedly firing a BB gun at the McDonald’s located at 987 E. Ash St. in Piqua.

Court dates for both Wilkinson and Zaenger are scheduled for Nov. 4.

The Piqua Police Department can be contacted at (937) 778-2027. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 937-615-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.piquaoh.org/police_submitatip.htm for more information.